GOD'S SACRIFICIAL LOVE

Today, Thursday of Holy Week, we are remembering the Last Supper. It is the event when Jesus celebrated the Passover meal with His disciples before His death. Much like the lamb sacrificed to protect the Israelites from the tenth plague sent by God against Pharaoh during their slavery in Egypt, the blood of Jesus offers protection from God's judgment to all who believe in Him. After finishing their Passover meal, they went to the Garden of Gethsemane so that Jesus could pray before His arrest. Jesus understood He would carry the world's sins and die for them to save all who believe in Him, so three times, He prayed fervently. Right after Jesus prayed, Judas Iscariot, the religious leaders, and the temple guards came and arrested Jesus (Matthew 26; Mark 14; Luke 22). Jesus was then led to be crucified and died on the cross. Tomorrow, we will commemorate His death on the cross, and on Sunday, we will celebrate His resurrection. Jesus came to fulfill the will of our Heavenly Father to die for the sins of the world so that those who believe in Him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 summarizes the salvific mission of our Heavenly Father. Jesus said, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

Jesus was willing to go through suffering and death to save us from our sins. He did not come to conquer the world and make Himself the political King, but He came as a servant King to conquer our sins and death so that we may have hope and eternal life through Him. As we celebrate Easter this week, may we express our gratitude and worship to our God. We were helplessly and hopelessly lost in our sins. God has to come to rescue us from our sins. Ephesians 2:1-6 says that we were dead in our sins, but God made us alive through our Lord Jesus. May we not take for granted the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Our Lord Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross because He loves us. 1 John 4:10 says, "This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins."

As we celebrate Easter, let us remember how much God loves us. May we take a moment to thank our Lord Jesus for His sacrifice in saving us from our sins. Have a blessed Easter weekend!  

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Why did Jesus die on the cross? Where would I be if Jesus did not save me from my sins? How do I celebrate Easter this weekend?

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, thank you for loving me so much that you sent your Son, Jesus, to save me from my sins through His sacrificial death and resurrection. I praise and glorify your name for giving me eternal hope and life. Please help me not to take for granted what you have done in my life. May I always be thankful for everything that you have done in my life. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.